I'm interested in your project, Mike. Are you going to build a vacuum press, use contact cement, the heated glue method or what?

I really want to avoid going down the road of bags and equipment. Once I do, Iíll just end up spending a bunch of money on stuff Iíll rarely use. Heck, twenty years of woodworking and this is the first interest Iíve had in doing it. I plan to use a water based contact cement because I read that petroleum based can bleed through and mess with the finish Ė and I canít find any iron on adhesive (Iíd rather use that). Iím going to run a sander over the corners to sort of round them a bit. Then I plan to adhere the front first, working from the middle with a laminate roller, then Ďattemptí to roll the laminate over the rounded corners without cracking it. Iíve played with it some, and itís pretty pliable. I think I can do with without using veneer softener. I hope so anyway. Iíll need to make a template for the driver and air port out of ľ MDF first so that I can use it re-rout those openings in the veneer. Well thatís the plan anyway. I got the 500ís hooked up and calibrated today (oh boy, oh wow!!) so Iíll start this project tomorrow. If you donít hear back from me, then Iím pissed off and sanding the thing down to paint it blackÖ..

Iím going to run a sander over the corners to sort of round them a bit.

I'm no expert, but based on my limited experience, I would advise not using a powered sander. I would try a real high grit paper or 00 steel wool by hand first. The veneer is so thin powered may piss you off early in the game. You are talking about a small total area to sand so no real time difference.

Originally Posted By: michael_d

Then I plan to adhere the front first, working from the middle with a laminate roller, then Ďattemptí to roll the laminate over the rounded corners without cracking it. Iíve played with it some, and itís pretty pliable. I think I can do with without using veneer softener. I hope so anyway. Iíll need to make a template for the driver and air port out of ľ MDF first so that I can use it re-rout those openings in the veneer.

That sounds right. I did not make a template, and regret it as the fact was the worst part. I repeated that failure on my recent computer speakers - see how well I learn.

Everything you describe as your intended process will work, since I assume you're going to sand the corners of the MDF cabinet and not the veneer before applying. However, I'd take the advice and not use power at all. MDF can disappear really quickly in a pink cloud and there's not enough thinckness to powersand veneer. And I wouldn't go below 150grit for edge sanding after applying and trimming the veneer. (I use 180).

Also, I place cut, straighted coat hanger rods on my cemented substrate. Then posisition the veneer. Remove the rods one at a time as you roller your way up the surface.

I used a combination of ROS, block sanding and hand sanding. The dam port is glued together and I couldn't remove it. I had to sand it flush with the case and use wood filler. Just finished coating the cement. I'm waiting for it to dry, then the fun begins..... I'm committed now. This might have been a mistake.